This week on Called to Flourish, the podcast for American Heritage Girls troop leaders who long to lead with confidence, creativity, and a Christ-centered purpose, we are talking about badge planning.
As August draws near, many of us are asking the same question:
Is my troop year planned… or just pieced together?
If you’re feeling a little behind, you’re not alone. This summer has been full of transitions for our troop—charter renewal, board changes, leaders stepping down, and new families joining. Through it all, my heart has been longing for one thing for my leadership team and girls this fall: peace.
That desire for peace led me to create a new resource I’m sharing in today’s episode: the Unit Badge Planner.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
In Episode 4, I walk you through:
- Why thoughtful pre-planning for badges pays off for leaders, girls, and parents.
- How we’re restructuring our Pioneers and Patriots for more girl-led experiences.
- What to do when new leaders step in and feel overwhelmed.
- The exact system I use to lay out a full year of badges, requirements, and homework.
- Creative ways to delegate (like parent-led sensitive topics or badge captains for older girls).
The Unit Badge Planner: A Game-Changer for Troop Planning
When I looked at our Pioneers’ and Patriots’ badge history, I realized we could plan strategically for:
- Award progress (Abigail Adams, Stars & Stripes)
- Balanced badge topics throughout the year
- Homework assignments that make sense for families
The Unit Badge Planner (built in Notion) lets leaders:
- Map out each meeting date, badge focus, and covered requirements
- Assign prep work, supplies, and icebreakers
- Plan parent-led discussions for sensitive topics
- Share read-only versions with parents and badge captains so no one falls behind
- Update in real-time so all leaders stay aligned
This Year’s Badge Lineup
Here’s how we’re structuring our year for our Pi/Pa’s
- Biblical Leadership
- Personal Care
- Physical Fitness
- Photography & Scrapbooking
Every badge is mapped to meeting dates, assignments, and prep details in the planner—creating clarity and margin for everyone.
Why Planning Ahead Matters
When every leader is aligned and equipped:
- Meetings feel calm, not rushed
- Girls know what to expect and can take ownership
- Leaders have margin for creativity (and for life outside troop night!)
And as a bonus—your future self will thank you.
Try the Unit Badge Planner
If you’re ready for a smoother troop year, the Unit Badge Planner is available at FlourishTroopCo.com/shop I’ve included:
- A walkthrough video showing you how to set up your planning using our Pi/Pa plan as an example
- A pdf with helpful tips and easy steps to set up your planner.
Even if you don’t use my tool, I encourage you to take time now to map your troop year, delegate badges, and set everyone up for success.
Key Takeaway
You are called to lead with purpose.
You can also plan with purpose—and that will bring peace to your troop year.
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Listen to episode 4: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/called-to-flourish-podcast/id1825904379?i=1000719663083
- 📩 Subscribe to Called to Flourish for more encouragement and practical tools:
- 💌 Share this episode with a fellow AHG leader who could use some planning peace